Doug Free made a play...

[Eskimo]

An animated gif of Colombo punking DHall goes a long way.

That was a long time ago and I'd prefer a good blocker over someone who wants to push around 200 lb punks.

Columbo is okay but Free is better - we could keep Columbo as a backup swing tackle or trade him elsewhere for a mid-round pick.

 

[theogt]

Well, I HATE to be a party pooper but...............Phillips is there to help Free. Free woofed. Thank god Phillips held him at bay 'til Free got there.

Still.................goes to show how miniscule the workings of a play are. Not much between making it or missing it.

How could he possibly whiff on a guy that looped around the outside of the TE?

 

[Rampage]

if you guys watch the game again Free decleated the Saints db Randel Gay on the bubble screen to Miles a play or 2 before Barber scored his 1st td. Romo gave him dap for that.

thanks Hypno
http://i846.***BLOCKED***/albums/ab23/SirHypnotoad/Cowboys/2009/Week15%20NO/GIF/15-req-Rampage.gif

 

[CowboyManDan]

That's a FANTASTIC play from Free that shows a lot of ability and awareness. From these past handful of games, he might be a future starter afterall. I do believe he's a better pass blocker tha run blocker though.

 

[Bleu Star]

On the TD to Miles, Free (in an unbalanced line) made a phenomenal play in pass pro that few tackles can make. Showed remarkably quick feet and great alertness. John Phillips (I think) was getting beat on the pass rush and Free reversed his field, ran all the way back behind Romo and chipped the defender so that Romo had time to complete the TD to Miles. Huge play...


The first GIF in Hypnotoad's list (thanks, Hypno...)

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172283

That was very good awareness by Free. Olinemen are taught to look inside out and they follow that rule even when faced with no one to block. On that play he quickly recognized that there was no pressure inside and glanced outside (as linemen are taught to do). I am in no way shape or form minimizing his effort on the play. He did a very nice job of helping on the play. However, it's just another normal play for the average lineman.

I think Free will do just fine over time. He has shown some good things and definitely some things that need to be worked on. The major positive in this is that the coaching staff is now accumulating real game tape that they can use to coach him up and help him improve his game. Never underestimate the power of Hudson Houck. Rest assured... he is accelerating that improvement process after every game with some individual instruction. I'll bet on that.

 

[Bleu Star]

thanks Hypno
http://i846.***BLOCKED***/albums/ab23/SirHypnotoad/Cowboys/2009/Week15%20NO/GIF/15-req-Rampage.gif

That was beautiful. It appears as though he made a couple of plays.

 

[burmafrd]

hey witless winicki, I said he had proven nothing. So far he has proven he is a good backup and passable starter. But he is too weak. Bull rushers eat him up.

 

[Bleu Star]

hey witless winicki, I said he had proven nothing. So far he has proven he is a good backup and passable starter. But he is too weak. Bull rushers eat him up.

He can get stronger in the weight room. Not a big deal. I'm sure they're already working on that.

 

[KingintheNorth]

http://i846.***BLOCKED***/albums/ab23/SirHypnotoad/Cowboys/2009/Week15%20NO/GIF/15-req-Rampage.gif

Sucks to be that guy. Plus his last name is Gay.

 

[theogt]

thanks Hypno
http://i846.***BLOCKED***/albums/ab23/SirHypnotoad/Cowboys/2009/Week15%20NO/GIF/15-req-Rampage.gif

If Gurode pulls his head out of his arse, that's a TD.

 

[Manster54]

I'm pleasantly surprised by Free's play.
However, take a look at the Saints' sacks.
I believe two came from Free's side.
One looked like maybe Barber picked the wrong guy to pick up.
Romo's mobility makes the O-line look better than they really are IMHO.

 

[Bleu Star]

If Gurode pulls his head out of his arse, that's a TD.

Yeppers.

 

[burmafrd]

Those that think Free is going to get stronger are on crack. He has had 3 years in a top weight program. He is NOT going to get any stronger then he is now. He can become a better technician, but he is as strong as he is ever going to get now.

 

[theogt]

I'm pleasantly surprised by Free's play.
However, take a look at the Saints' sacks.
I believe two came from Free's side.
One looked like maybe Barber picked the wrong guy to pick up.
Romo's mobility makes the O-line look better than they really are IMHO.

At most you could say the first one was on Free, but I'm not sure it should have mattered. The LDE did a great job of recognizing and getting to Romo, but Romo had plenty of time to get the ball off to Witten, who was wide open.

http://i846.***BLOCKED***/albums/ab23/SirHypnotoad/Cowboys/2009/Week15%20NO/GIF/15-2-01-RomoSacked.gif

http://i846.***BLOCKED***/albums/ab23/SirHypnotoad/Cowboys/2009/Week15%20NO/GIF/15-2-02-RomoSacked2.gif

http://i846.***BLOCKED***/albums/ab23/SirHypnotoad/Cowboys/2009/Week15%20NO/GIF/15-2-06-RomoSacked3.gif

 

[theogt]

Those that think Free is going to get stronger are on crack. He has had 3 years in a top weight program. He is NOT going to get any stronger then he is now. He can become a better technician, but he is as strong as he is ever going to get now.

That depends on what he's been focusing on thus far. If he's been focusing solely on putting on weight and building strength, then yeah, he might be close to topped out by now. Otherwise, he likely still has room to gain size and strength.

 

[Bleu Star]

Those that think Free is going to get stronger are on crack. He has had 3 years in a top weight program. He is NOT going to get any stronger then he is now. He can become a better technician, but he is as strong as he is ever going to get now.

This is some good crack.

 

[Oh_Canada]

This is some good crack.

Free is a keeper and hopefully will replace Flo next season.

 

[burmafrd]

OGT, all players have a weight training plan. One of the few areas that just about everyone thinks we are very good at is our strength coaches. If there was any way to make Free stronger they would have done it by now.

 

[CATCH17]

Inside pressure always has the priority. Free's problem is that he is not strong enough to stop the bull rushers.

But he has... thats the thing.

For what he lacks in strength he makes it up with athleticism and ability to position himself between himself and the ball carrier.

He wont get a lot of push once he locks on but he can shield you off.

 

[Manster54]

At most you could say the first one was on Free, but I'm not sure it should have mattered. The LDE did a great job of recognizing and getting to Romo, but Romo had plenty of time to get the ball off to Witten, who was wide open.

http://i846.***BLOCKED***/albums/ab23/SirHypnotoad/Cowboys/2009/Week15%20NO/GIF/15-2-01-RomoSacked.gif

http://i846.***BLOCKED***/albums/ab23/SirHypnotoad/Cowboys/2009/Week15%20NO/GIF/15-2-02-RomoSacked2.gif

http://i846.***BLOCKED***/albums/ab23/SirHypnotoad/Cowboys/2009/Week15%20NO/GIF/15-2-06-RomoSacked3.gif

Take a close look at #3. Barber might have picked up the wrong guy, but Free should have taken the inside man. Instead, he took the outside man and the closest man to Romo had a straight path...